(12) United States Patent
`Kawakami
`
`US006520625B1
`US 6,520,625 B1
`Feb. 18,2003
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) CARRIAGE AND RECORDING APPARATUS
`
`(75) Inventor: Hideaki Kawakami, Yokohama (JP)
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`
`59-123670
`59-138461
`60-71260
`
`7/1984
`8/1984
`4/1985
`
`(73) Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 143 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/640,060
`(22) Filed:
`Aug. 17, 2000
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Aug. 20, 1999
`
`(JP) ......................................... .. 11-234429
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ................................................. .. B41J 2/01
`(52) US. Cl. .......................................... .. 347/49; 347/50
`(58) Field of Search ............................. .. 347/37, 49, 50
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,313,124 A
`4,345,262 A
`4,459,600 A
`
`1/1982 Hara ......................... .. 347/57
`8/1982 Shirato et a1. .
`347/20
`7/1984 Sato et a1. . . . . .
`. . . .. 347/47
`
`4,463,359 A
`
`7/1984 Ayata et al. . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 347/47
`
`4,558,333 A 12/1985 Sugitani et a1.
`
`347/65
`
`4,608,577 A
`
`8/1986 Hori . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 347/66
`
`347/56
`2/1988 Endo et a1.
`4,723,129 A
`4/ 1988 Endo et al. ................. .. 347/56
`4,740,796 A
`5/1998 Nagashima ................ .. 347/50
`5,757,403 A
`5,867,188 A * 2/1999 Murayama et a1.
`347/37
`5,971,525 A 10/1999 Inoue et al. ................ .. 347/50
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Primary Examiner—Anh T.N. V0
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—FitZpatrick, Cella, Harper &
`Scitno
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The invention provides a carriage for a recording apparatus,
`comprising a head mounting portion on Which a head
`cartridge is detachably mounted, a connector portion to be
`electrically connected With the head cartridge, an operating
`portion for rendering the head cartridge attachable to or
`detachable from the head mounting portion, Wherein When
`rotated in a ?rst direction, the operating portion ?xes the
`head cartridge mounted on the head mounting portion and
`electrically connects the connector portion, While When
`rotated in a second direction opposite to that in the ?xing
`operation, the operating portion releases the electrical con
`nection betWeen the head cartridge and the connector
`portion, and a connector protecting member adapted to
`protect the connector portion and being linked With the
`rotation of the operating portion. When the operating portion
`is rotated in a direction rendering the head cartridge detach
`able or mountable, the connector portion moves to a position
`protecting the connector portion, While When the operating
`portion is rotated in a direction ?xing the head cartridge, the
`connector portion moves to a position exposing the connec
`tor portion.
`
`JP
`
`54-56847
`
`5/1979
`
`24 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
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`THERMO FISHER EX. 1035
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 1 0f 14
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`US 6,520,625 B1
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`THERMO FISHER EX. 1035
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 2 0f 14
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`US 6,520,625 B1
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`Sm
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`mom
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`N GI
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 3 0f 14
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`US 6,520,625 B1
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`FIG. 3C
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`FIG. 35
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`FIG. 3A
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 4 0f 14
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`US 6,520,625 B1
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`FIG. 4
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`430
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`490
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`490a
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`400
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 5 0f 14
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`FIG. 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 6 6f 14
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`FIG. 6
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`400
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`430
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`[11:]
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`410
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 7 0f 14
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`FIG.
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`430
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`400
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`2
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`,/>
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`493
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`_, 1/490
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`49Gb
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 8 0f 14
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 9 0f 14
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`US 6,520,625 B1
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`FIG. 9
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`900
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 10 0f 14
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`FIG. 10
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`902
`303
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 11 0f 14
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`FIG.
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`11
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`908a
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`908
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`406D
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`406
`406a
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`91 1
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`900
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`430
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`601
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`909
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`902
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`500
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`400
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`404
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`303
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`THERMO FISHER EX. 1035
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 12 0f 14
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`FIG. 12
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`492
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`A
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`421
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`403
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 13 0f 14
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`FIG. 13
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`430
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`490
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`403
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 18,2003
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`Sheet 14 0f 14
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`FIG. 14A
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`FIG. 14B
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`492
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`"V 495
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`490
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`US 6,520,625 B1
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`1
`CARRIAGE AND RECORDING APPARATUS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a recording apparatus
`having a detachable head cartridge, and more particularly to
`an attaching/detaching mechanism of the head cartridge.
`2. Related Background Art
`A recording apparatus for recording on a recording
`medium (hereinafter also called recording sheet) such as
`paper, cloth, plastic sheet or OHP sheet has been proposed
`in a form capable of mounting a head cartridge of various
`recording systems, such as Wire dot system, thermosensitive
`system, thermal transfer system or ink jet system.
`Among these recording apparatuses, an apparatus that is
`equipped With a head cartridge of ink jet type, Which
`performs non-impact recording at a loW noise level, forms a
`record on a recording sheet by discharging ink from a
`discharge port (noZZle) arranged on a recording element
`(hereinafter also called an ink jet recording apparatus), and
`is capable of high-density and high-speed recording.
`The ink jet recording apparatus assumes a con?guration
`matching the function, speci?cation, form, etc. peculiar to a
`system to Which the apparatus is applied. In general, the ink
`jet recording apparatus is provided With a carriage support
`ing a head cartridge and an ink tank, conveying means for
`conveying the recording sheet, and control means for con
`trolling these components.
`Also the head cartridge for discharging ink droplets from
`plural discharge ports is driven in a serial scanning motion
`in a direction (main scanning direction) perpendicular to the
`conveying direction (sub scanning direction) of the record
`ing sheet, While the recording sheet is intermittently con
`veyed (pitch conveying) by an amount equal to the recording
`Width. By employing a head cartridge having plural ink
`discharging noZZles arranged linearly in the sub scanning
`direction, there is achieved recording of a Width correspond
`ing to the number of noZZles by a single scan of the head
`cartridge on the recording sheet.
`Also the ink jet recording apparatus has a loW running
`cost, can be made compact in its dimensions and can achieve
`color image recording by employing inks of plural colors.
`For these reasons, the ink jet recording apparatus is
`utiliZed and commercialiZed as the output means of infor
`mation processing systems, for example, a printer constitut
`ing an output terminal of a copying machine, a facsimile
`apparatus, an electronic typeWriter, a Word processor, a Work
`station, etc., or a handy or portable printer equipped in a
`personal computer, a host computer, an optical disk device,
`a video apparatus, etc.
`As the recording element of such ink jet recording means,
`namely the energy generating means for generating energy
`for discharging ink, there have been knoWn, for example, an
`electromechanical converting member such as a pieZo
`element, utiliZation of heat generated by irradiation With an
`electromagnetic Wave such as a laser beam to discharging
`liquid droplet, or heating of liquid by an electrothermal
`converting element having a heat generating resistance
`member.
`Among these systems, the head cartridge of the ink jet
`recording system for discharging liquid by thermal energy is
`capable of recording With high resolution because the afore
`mentioned discharge ports can be arranged at a high density.
`In particular, the head cartridge utiliZing the electrothermal
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`converting element as the energy generating means is advan
`tageous since it can easily be made compact, it can fully
`utiliZe semiconductor technology and microprocessing tech
`nology Which have recently shoWn remarkable progress and
`improvement in reliability, and it can achieve a high density
`With a loW manufacturing cost.
`Also the ink tank for supplying the head cartridge With ink
`is basically composed of an ink absorbent member, a con
`tainer for holding the ink absorbent member, and a cover
`member for sealing the container.
`Also the aforementioned head cartridge can be realiZed in
`a chip type integrated With such ink tank, or in a type
`detachably combined With the ink tank. In either type, the
`positioning betWeen the recording head and the ink tank, and
`the positioning betWeen the head cartridge formed by inte
`grating these members and the carriage are important items
`relating to the recording quality.
`Recently there is also proposed a recording apparatus in
`Which plural head cartridges of different external shapes can
`be detachably attached for replacement onto the carriage.
`More speci?cally, a color head is mounted on the carriage
`for recording color graphics. The color head is composed of
`plural tanks, respectively containing inks of black, yelloW,
`magenta and cyan colors, detachably mounted on a head.
`Also a photo head is mounted on the carriage for photo
`graphic tone recording. The photo head is composed of
`plural tanks, respectively containing inks of pale black,
`yelloW, pale magenta and pale cyan colors, detachably
`mounted on a head. Also in case of recording a text With
`black color, a black head having a tank of black color only
`is mounted on the carriage.
`The color head, the photo head and the black head are the
`same in the mechanism for attaching to the carriage and in
`the shape, but the black head has a smaller Width in
`comparison With the color head or the photo head, because
`of the loWer ink capacity in the tank.
`The black head, having a smaller Width than in the color
`head or the photo head, is smaller in Width than the carriage.
`For this reason it can be mounted in an inclined position on
`the carriage, and the connector portion of the carriage may
`be smeared by the ink of the noZZle portion of the black
`head. The ink deposition on the connector portion of the
`carriage may result in shortcircuiting, leading to draWbacks
`such as defective recording or malfunction of the recording
`apparatus.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An object of the present invention is to provide a head
`cartridge attach/detaching mechanism capable, in mounting
`a head cartridge of a smaller siZe With respect to the carriage,
`of avoiding contact of the recording portion of the head
`cartridge With the connector portion of the carriage, and also
`ensuring satisfactory operability.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`carriage of a recording apparatus, comprising a head mount
`ing portion on Which the head cartridge is detachably
`mounted, a connector portion to be electrically connected
`With the head cartridge, an operating portion adapted, When
`rotated in a direction, to ?x the head cartridge mounted on
`the head mounting portion and to electrically connect the
`connector portion While, When rotated in a direction oppo
`site to that in the ?xing operation, to release the electrical
`connection betWeen the head cartridge and the connector
`portion thereby rendering the head cartridge detachable from
`or mountable to the head mounting portion, and a connector
`protecting member adapted to protect the connector portion
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`US 6,520,625 B1
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`3
`and, When the operating portion is rotated in a direction
`rendering the head cartridge detachable or mountable, to
`move to a position protecting the connector portion, While,
`When the operating portion is rotated in a direction ?xing the
`head cartridge, to move to a position exposing the connector
`portion.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW shoWing the entire con?gu
`ration of an ink jet recording apparatus constituting a ?rst
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a plan vieW shoWing the entire con?guration of
`an ink jet recording apparatus constituting the ?rst embodi
`ment of the present invention;
`FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are perspective vieWs shoWing
`different kinds of the head cartridge to be mounted on the ink
`jet recording apparatus shoWn in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a front vieW of the carriage shoWn in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is a plan vieW of the carriage shoWn in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 is a rear vieW of the carriage shoWn in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 7 is a right-side vieW of the carriage shoWn in FIG.
`1;
`FIG. 8 is a perspective vieW shoWing the detailed struc
`ture of the head cartridge shoWn in FIG. 7;
`FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are cross-sectional vieWs of the
`carriage shoWing the attach/detaching operation of the head
`cartridge in the carriage shoWn in FIGS. 3A to 3C;
`FIGS. 12 and 13 are cross-sectional vieWs of the carriage
`shoWing the function of a connector protecting plate con
`tained in the carriage shoWn in FIGS. 3A to 3C; and
`FIGS. 14A and 14B are side vieWs of the connector
`protecting plate in a second embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`NoW the present invention Will be clari?ed in detail by
`preferred embodiments thereof With reference to the accom
`panying draWings.
`[First Embodiment]
`At ?rst the con?guration of the recording apparatus of the
`present invention Will be schematically explained With ref
`erence to FIGS. 1 and 2, Which are respectively a perspective
`vieW and a plan vieW shoWing the entire con?guration of a
`recording apparatus constituting a ?rst embodiment of the
`present invention.
`The recording apparatus, having an automatic sheet feed
`ing device as shoWn in FIGS. 1 and 2, is composed of a sheet
`feeding unit, a sheet conveying unit, a carriage unit, a sheet
`discharge unit and a cleaning unit. These components Will be
`individually explained in the folloWing.
`(A) Sheet Feeding Unit
`The sheet feeding unit is composed of a pressing plate 201
`for stacking sheet materials (not shoWn) and a rotary feeding
`member 202 for feeding the sheet material, both being
`mounted to a base member 200. On the pressing plate 201,
`a moveable side guide 203 is movably mounted to limit the
`stacking position of the sheet materials. The pressing plate
`201 is rotatable about a rotating shaft coupled to the base
`member 200, and is biased toWard the rotary feeding mem
`ber 202 by a pressing plate spring (not shoWn). On a position
`of the pressing plate 201 opposed to the rotary feeding
`member 202 there is provided a separating pad 204, com
`posed of a material of a large friction coef?cient such as
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`arti?cial leather, for preventing double feeding of the sheet
`materials. The base member 200 is further provided With a
`separating ?nger (not shoWn) covering a comer of the sheet
`materials thereby, separating the sheet materials one by one,
`a bank portion (not shoWn) formed integrally With the base
`member 200 and serving to separate cardboard or the like
`When the separating ?nger is automatically retracted, for
`example, by the cardboard, and a release cam (not shoWn)
`for releasing the contact betWeen the pressing plate 201 and
`the rotary feeding member 202.
`In the above-described con?guration, the release cam
`presses doWn the pressing plate 201 to a predetermined
`position in a Waiting state, Whereby the pressing plate 201 is
`released from the contact With the rotary feeding member
`202. When the driving force of a conveying roller 300 is
`transmitted in this state, for example, through gears, to the
`rotary feeding member 202 and the release cam, the release
`cam is separated from the pressing plate 201 to cause the
`elevation thereof, Whereby the rotary feeding member 202
`comes into contact With the sheet materials to start the sheet
`feeding. Thus the sheet is picked up by the rotation of the
`rotary feeding member 202, separated one by one by the
`separating ?nger and is fed to the sheet conveying unit. The
`rotary feeding member 202 and the release cam rotate until
`a sheet is fed into the sheet conveying unit, Whereupon there
`is assumed again the Waiting state in Which the rotary
`feeding member 202 is released from the contact With the
`sheet materials and the driving force from the conveying
`roller 300 is interrupted.
`(B) Sheet Conveying Unit
`The sheet conveying unit is provided With the conveying
`roller 300 and a PE sensor (not shoWn). The conveying roller
`300 is maintained in contact With a pinch roller 301, Which
`is supported by a pinch roller guide 302 and is biased by a
`pinch roller spring (not shoWn) in contact With the convey
`ing roller 300 thereby generating a conveying force for the
`sheet material. At the entrance of the sheet conveying unit
`for receiving the fed sheet, there are provided the pinch
`roller guide 302 and a platen 303 for guiding the sheet
`material. The pinch roller guide 302 is provided With a PE
`sensor lever (not shoWn) for transmitting the detection of the
`leading and trailing ends of the sheet to the PE sensor (not
`shoWn). Also in the doWnstream side of the conveying roller
`300 in the conveying direction of the recording sheet, there
`is provided a head cartridge 900 for forming an image
`according to the image information.
`In the above-described con?guration, the sheet fed to the
`sheet conveying unit is guided by the platen 303 and the
`pinch roller guide 302 and supplied to the pair of the
`conveying roller 300 and the pinch roller 301. In this
`operation, the PE sensor lever detects the leading end of the
`conveyed sheet, thereby determining the recording position
`on the sheet. The sheet is conveyed onto the platen 303 by
`the rotation of the paired rollers 300, 301 by an unrepre
`sented LF motor.
`The head cartridge 900 is composed of an easily replace
`able inkjet cartridge integrally containing an ink tank. In the
`head cartridge 900, the ink can be given heat by a heater, for
`example, Whereby the ink causes ?lm boiling and a pressure
`change induced by the groWth or contraction of a bubble
`generated by such ?lm boiling causes a noZZle of the head
`cartridge 900 to discharge ink, thereby forming an image on
`the sheet material.
`(C) Carriage Unit
`The carriage unit is provided With a head cartridge (a
`cartridge unit or a head holder) 900 constituting recording
`means composed of a recording head and a detachably
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`mounted ink tank, and a carriage 400 detachably supporting
`the head cartridge 900.
`The carriage 400 is supported by a guide shaft 450,
`extending in a direction crossing the conveying direction of
`the sheet material, and a chassis 100. The guide shaft 450 is
`vertically elevated or loWered by the operation of a sheet gap
`adjusting lever (not shoWn) to maintain a gap betWeen the
`head cartridge 900 and the sheet. The chassis 100 supports
`the rear end of the carriage 400, thereby maintaining the
`carriage 400 in a predetermined position With respect to the
`sheet material. The carriage 400 executes a reciprocating
`motion along the guide shaft 450 and the chassis 100, by the
`driving force transmitted from a carriage motor 451 through
`a timing belt 452. The timing belt 452 is supported under a
`tension by an idling pulley 453, While the guide shaft 450
`and the carriage motor 451 are mounted on the chassis 100.
`On the rear face of the carriage 400 there is ?xed a carriage
`circuit board 420 (cf. FIG. 6), and a ?exible cable 422 is
`connected thereto for transmitting electrical signals from a
`circuit board (not shoWn), ?xed on the rear face of the
`chassis 100, to the head cartridge 900.
`In the present embodiment, the sheet material is conveyed
`by the conveying roller 300 and the pinch roller 301 in such
`a manner that the head cartridge 900 is opposed to a roW
`position (a position of the sheet in the conveying direction
`thereof) Where the image formation is to be executed on the
`sheet. The carriage 400 is moved by the driving force of the
`carriage motor 451 to a column position for image formation
`(a position perpendicular to the conveying direction of the
`sheet), Whereby the recording head of the head cartridge 900
`is opposed to the image forming position. Then, in response
`to the electrical signal from the aforementioned circuit
`boards, the head cartridge 900 discharges ink toWard the
`sheet material to form the image thereon.
`In the folloWing there Will be explained the head cartridge
`900 With reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C Which respec
`tively shoW a black head, a color head and a photo head. The
`user executes recording by mounting, on the carriage 400, a
`head cartridge optimum for the record to be formed.
`The head cartridge 900 is composed of a recording head
`and an ink tank detachably mounted thereto. The ink tank is
`principally composed of an ink absorbent member, a trans
`parent plastic container in Which the ink absorbent member
`is inserted, and a cover member for sealing the container.
`The Width L1 of the black head is smaller than that L2 of the
`color head or the photo head.
`The black head is provided With an ink tank containing
`black ink. The color head is provided With four detachable
`ink tanks, respectively containing yelloW, magenta, cyan and
`black inks in succession from the right-hand side in the
`draWing. The photo head is provided With four detachable
`ink tanks, respectively containing yelloW, pale photo
`magenta, pale photo cyan and pale photo black inks in
`succession from the right-hand side in the draWing. The ink
`tanks for the yelloW, magenta, cyan, photo magenta, photo
`cyan and photo black colors have a same external shape. The
`black ink tank has a larger external shape and a larger ink
`amount in comparison With other ink tanks. The head
`cartridge, When seen from the rear side, is provided With
`holes in positions corresponding to the respective ink tanks
`of the recording head, so that the ink tanks are visible.
`In the ink jet recording apparatus, the energy generation
`means (recording element) for generating energy for dis
`charging the ink from the noZZle is conventionally com
`posed of an electromechanical converting member such as a
`pieZo element for pressuriZing the ink, or an element for
`irradiation With electromagnetic Waves such as a laser beam
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`or an electrothermal converting element such as a heat
`generating resistance member, for heating the ink to induce
`expansion or boiling thereof. The ink jet recording head of
`the latter system, utiliZing thermal energy for liquid
`discharge, is capable of recording in a high resolution
`because the noZZles can be arranged in a high density.
`Among such systems, the recording head utiliZing the elec
`trothermal converting element as the energy generation
`means has various advantages, such as easily being made
`compact, fully utiliZing semiconductor technology and
`micro process technology Which have remarkably pro
`gressed and improved in reliability, and being easily pro
`duced With a high density and With a loW manufacturing
`cost. Therefore, in the recording head of the head cartridge
`of the present embodiment there is employed a system of
`applying heat to the ink by an electrothermal converting
`element including a heat-generating resistance member such
`as a heater. The ink causes ?lm boiling by such heat, and the
`pressure change induced by the groWth or contraction of the
`bubble generated by the ?lm boiling causes the ink to be
`discharged from the noZZle of the recording head, thereby
`forming an images.
`(D) Sheet Discharge Unit
`The sheet discharge unit is provided With a sheet dis
`charge roller (upstream side) (not shoWn) and a sheet
`discharge roller (doWnstream side) (not shoWn), receiving
`the driving force from an LF gear provided coaxially With
`the conveying roller 300 through a train of gears. Spur
`Wheels 500 rotated by the sheet discharge rollers are main
`tained in contact thereWith, and are supported by a spur
`holder 501 Which is ?xed to the platen 303. Thus the sheet,
`subjected to image formation by the carriage unit, is pinched
`and conveyed betWeen the sheet discharge rollers and the
`spur Wheels and is discharged to a discharge tray (not
`shoWn).
`(E) Cleaning Unit
`The cleaning unit is provided With a pump for leaning the
`head cartridge 900, and a cap for preventing the head
`cartridge 900 from drying. There is also provided a mecha
`nism for sWitching the driving force from the conveying
`roller 300 to the sheet feeding unit or to the pump. When the
`carriage is moved to the right-end position, the driving force
`of the LF motor is transmitted to the pump thereby executing
`cleaning of the head cartridge 900.
`In the folloWing there Will be detailedly explained the
`principal parts of the carriage unit.
`The carriage unit is formed by mounting various compo
`nents to the carriage 400. FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are respectively
`a front vieW, a plan vieW, a rear vieW and a right-side vieW
`of the carriage unit, While FIG. 8 is a perspective vieW of a
`head cartridge to be mounted on the aforementioned car
`riage.
`The carriage 400 is provided With a pocket (head mount
`ing portion) for mounting the head cartridge 900. On both
`sides of the pocket, tWo grooves are formed for positioning
`the head cartridge 900. The pocket is provided With a plate
`spring 410 for biasing the head cartridge 900 in the
`x-direction. Also on the upper part of the carriage 400 a
`rotatable locking lever 430 is provided, and a connector 421
`is ?xed so as to slightly protrude from an aperture 411 (cf.
`FIG. 9) of the pocket at the rear face of the carriage 400. The
`locking lever 430 constitutes an operating portion of the
`carriage 400, functioning as a lever to be used by the
`operator for extracting the head cartridge 900 from the
`carriage 400. The connector 421 is electrically connected
`With the carriage circuit board 420 at the rear side of the
`carriage 400.
`
`THERMO FISHER EX. 1035
`
`

`
`US 6,520,625 B1
`
`7
`On the other hand, the head cartridge 900 to be mounted
`on the carriage 400 is provided, as shoWn in FIG. 8, With a
`noZZle portion 901 as the ink discharging portion on the
`loWer face, also With positioning projections 902 on both
`faces, With an impinging portion 903 in the x-direction on a
`lateral face, and an electric distribution plate 905 bearing
`plural contact pads 904 on the rear face. It is further
`provided, in the upper part of the rear face, With an imping
`ing portion 906 in the y-direction, and inclined face 907 for
`receiving the pressing force of the locking lever 430, and a
`sliding portion 908 composed of an inclined face to be
`contacted in sliding motion by a push-out member 406
`integrally formed With the locking lever 430, in order to shift
`the head cartridge 900 upWardly.
`In the folloWing there Will be explained the attaching/
`detaching operation of the head cartridge 900, With reference
`to FIGS. 9 to 11, Which are cross-sectional vieWs of the
`carriage for explaining the attaching/detaching operation of
`the head cartridge 900.
`FIG. 9 shoWs a state of the head cartridge 900 locked in
`a predetermined position, Wherein the positioning projection
`902 thereof engages With a positioning groove 404 of the
`carriage 400 While the y-direction impinging portion 906 at
`the upper part of the rear face of the head cartridge is in
`pressure contact With a receiving face 600 of the carriage
`400. In such state, the connector 421 is in contact, With an
`appropriate contact pressure, With the contact pads 904
`thereby making electrical connection. This contact pressure
`functions not only to form the electrical connection but also
`to securely press the positioning projection 902 toWard the
`positioning groove 404 and also to separate the impinging
`portion 906 from the receiving face 600. In a state Where the
`y-direction impinging portion 906 and the receiving face
`600 are separated, the position of the head cartridge 900 is
`unstable, so that the noZZle portion 901 has a loW positional
`accuracy and the electrical connection also becomes
`unstable. It is therefore necessary to press the inclined face
`of the head cartridge 900 With a force larger than the contact
`pressure of the connector 421.
`The locking lever 430 is rotatable about the supporting
`shaft 601 and is combined With a rocking arm 431, rocking
`about a fulcrum 431a, a pressure roller 432 mounted on the
`rocking arm 431, and a pressure spring 433 for biasing the
`rocking arm 431. In a pressing unit composed of these
`components, the pressure roller 432 presses the inclined face
`907 of the head cartridge 900 to achieve secure impingement
`of the y-direction impinging portion 906 and the receiving
`face 600 and to achieve an impingement in the Z-direction of
`the positioning projection 902 and the positioning groove
`404.
`Thus the position in the y-direction is determined by three
`points, namely by the positioning projections 902 (on both
`side faces) and the y-direction impinging portion 906, While
`the position in the Z-direction is determined by tWo points,
`namely by the positioning projections 902 (on both side
`faces), and the position in the x-direction is determined by
`one point, namely the x-direction impinging portion 903,
`Whereby the position of the head cartridge 900 becomes
`stabiliZed.
`In such state, in the vicinity of the noZZle portion 901,
`there are positioned the pinch roller 301 in contact With the
`conveying roller 300 and the spur Wheels 500 in contact With
`a sheet discharge roller 502. As the carriage 400 executes
`reciprocating motion along the guide shaft 450, the head
`cartridge 900 is naturally so positioned as not to interfere
`With any of these components in the locked state in the
`predetermined position, but it is preferable that the head
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`35
`
`45
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`55
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`65
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`8
`cartridge 900 does not cause such interference also in the
`attaching or detaching operation thereof.
`In the present embodiment, in extracting the head car
`tridge 900, the locking lever 430 is lifted in a direction A as
`shoWn in FIG. 10 Whereby the pressure roller 432 is disen
`gaged from the inclined face 907. Thus, by the repulsive
`force of the connector 421 and by the Weight of the head
`cartridge 900, the head cartridge 900 rotates in a direction B
`about the positioning projections 902 on both sides. Such
`rotation, if continued, Will result in interference With the
`platen 303, or the spur Wheels 500, but, in the present
`embodiment, such interference can be avoided since the
`rotation is limited by the engagement of an auxiliary engag
`ing portion 909 of the head cartridge 900 With an auxiliary
`guide 405 of the carriage 400.
`When the locking lever 430 is rotated further, the push-out
`member 406 formed integrally With the locking lever 430
`engages With the sliding portion 908 of the head cartridge
`900, thereby pushing out the head cartridge 900 along the
`positioning grooves 404 and the auxiliary guides 405 of the
`carriage 400. Also in this operation, the head cartridge 900
`moves along such a trajectory as not to cause interference
`With the platen 303 or the spur Wheels 500.
`The head cartridge 900 may be simply pushed out to an
`easily extractable position by continuation of the rotation of
`the locking lever 430 to an appropriate position, but, in the
`present embodiment, the head cartridge 900 assumes a
`posture as shoWn in FIG. 11 in the exchange position.
`More speci?cally, When the locking lever 430 is rotated to
`the end point, the head cartridge 900 is stably supported by
`another auxiliary engaging portion 910, the positioning
`projections 902 and the sliding portion 908. The shift is
`made from the auxiliary engaging portion 909 to the other
`auxiliary engaging portion 910 in order to stabiliZe the
`balance of the center of gravity, and an arc portion 406a of
`the push-out member 406 is formed concentrically With a
`shaft 601 in order to prevent reverse rotation of the locking
`lever 430 in a direction C by the Weight of the head cartridge
`900. Besides, When the locking lever 430 is rotated to the
`end point, the ?nal engaging face 406b of the push-out
`member 406 and the engaging face 908a of the sliding
`por